Watchband

ABSTRACT

A watchband or the like including special clips secured to the band for gripping and retaining the watch on the band. Each of the clips includes, at one end, a resilient reverted loop which receives one of the mounting pins on the watch case. The clips are secured at their other ends to the watchband by offset mounting tabs which pass through slots in the band. The offset tabs are secured toothe underside of the band by a rivet which passes both through the band and the offset tab.

United States Patent 1 Millman 1 June 5,1973

[ WATCHBAND Inventor! Samuel Millman, 11 Florence Avenue, Revere, Mass.02151 [22] Filed: May 28, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 41,466

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 915,665 11/1946 France ..224/4D 46 as A30 I8 44 WWII/1111111111 I 112,154 12/1940 Australia ..224/4D PrimaryExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. OreskyAtt0rneyWolf, Greenfield & Sacks [57] ABSTRACT A watchband or the likeincluding special clipssecured to the band for gripping and retainingthe watch on the band. Each of the clips includes, at one end, aresilient reverted loop which receives one of the mounting pins on thewatch case. The clips are secured at their other ends to the watchbandby, offset mounting tabs which pass through slots in the band.

The offset tabs are secured toothe underside of the' band by a rivetwhich passes both through the band and the offset tab.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures WATCHBAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to watchbands or the like and, more particularly, toan improved watchband which enables a conventional wristwatch to besecured and attached thereto quickly and simply yet which retains theattached watch firmly. Unlike many conventional watchbands the watch,having generally parallel attaching pins located at opposite ends of thewatch case, may be attached to the watchband simply by slipping each ofthe attaching pins into a specially formed clip which, in turn, issecured to the watchband. The attaching pins need not be separated fromthe watch case and, therefore, the usual difficult manipulationsrequired to detach and reassemble the attaching pins is avoided.Although other arrangements have been proposed in the prior art tofasten the attaching pins to the watchband without requiring that thepins be removed from the watch casing, these arrangements generally haveincluded fasteners which must be arranged and locked by the user. Thefurther manipulative steps required in such watchbands are avoided withthe instant invention which includes self-locking and retaining clips ofa special design.

A further difficulty encountered with prior watchbands which may beattached to the attaching pins without requiring removal of theattaching pins from the watch case is that the connective elementsfrequently are formed from thin leather or other flexible but tearablematerial. Because of the relatively weak construction of theseconnecting elements there is a correspondingly greater chance that theconnecting elements may break or tear with the result that the watch maybecome separated from the watchband and may become damaged.Additionally, in watchbands having conventional snap-type connectivefittings the snaps open inadvertently, particularly when the watch isused in a rough environment. Obviously, such inadvertent release of thewatch may result in considerable damage to the watch.

Finally, a number of such watchbands include connective fittings whichmay tend to open as a result of the stresses imposed on the fittings asthe watchband is wrapped about the users wrist. In contrast, thewatchband of the instant invention results in a more effective grip onthe watch as it is wrapped about the users wrist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In brief, the invention includes a watchbandhaving a pair of specially formed resilient clips fastened thereto. Theclips are spaced along the watchband to receive the watch casetherebetween. The clips include a special reverted resilient loop intowhich the attaching pins of the watch case may be snapped. Once the pinshave been snappedjnto the resilient loops they are retained thereinfirmly at all times. Each clip includes one such loop for engagementwith one of the two attaching pins on the watch case. Each clip alsoincludes an offset mounting tab at the end opposite the reverted loop.The offset tab passes through a transverse slot formed on the watchbandso that the tab is disposed along the underside of the band. The clip issecured to the watchband by means of a rivet which passes through theband and the offset tab with the head of the rivet exposed at the outersurface of the band in proximity to the exposed portion of itsassociated clip.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a watchbanddwhichgrips positively the attaching pins of a watch case and which enablesthe watch and watchband to be assembled without requiring removal of theattaching pins from the watch case.

A further object of my invention is to provide a watchband of thecharacter described which has few elements and is of simple, economicalconstruction.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a watchband of thecharacter described having resilient snap-in clips which receive theattaching pins of the watch case in a snap-in fashion and whichthereafter maintain a secure and firm grip on the attaching pins.

A further object of the invention is to provide a watchband constructionin which the attaching clips of the watch are anchored firmly andsecurely to the watchband but which do not impair the flexibility of thewatchband.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a watchband whichincreases its grip on the watch when the watchband is wrapped about theusers wrist.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptionthereof with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a watchband construction in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken through the clip as viewed along theline 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a blank from which the clip may be formed.

As shown in FIG. 1 the invention includes a watchband or base member 10of flexible material such as leather, plastic, flexible metal or othermaterial suitable for use as a watchband. Conventional means such as abuckle 12 and a number of holes 14 are located at opposite ends of thewatchband 10 to enable it to be fastened, about the users wrist.

The watch 16, shown in phantom, is mounted to the outer surface 18 ofthe basemember 10 by means of specially constructed clips, indicatedgenerally by the reference character 20. The clips 20 are spaced alongthe base member 10 to embrace the ends of the watch 16, The clips 20 areof a special construction to receive the attaching pins 22 of the watchcase in a snap-on fashion without requiring removal of the pins 22 fromtheir respective sockets formed in lugs 24 which protrude from thecorners of the watch 16.

The clips may be formed from a blank as shown in FIG. 3, which has ahole 26 formed through one end for a purpose later described. As shownin FIG. 2, each clip 20 includes an offset mounting tab 28 formed at theend of the clip 20 which includes the hole 26. In the illustrativeembodiment of the invention the offset tab 28 is arranged in generallyparallel relation to the body 30 of the clip, the tab 28 and body 30being connected by an integral connective portion 32. The other end ofthe clip 20 is bent into a reverted loop 34, the free end of whichcooperates with the underside of the body 30 of the clip 20 to definearestricted opening or mouth 36. The extreme end of the loop 34 is curledin reversed direction to define a curled lip 38 which serves tofacilitate entry through the mouth 36 into the reverted loop 34. The endof the curled lip 38 should be spaced from the connective portion 32 toenable the tweenand through thednouth36 intc thloopGFilL attaching'fpin12 2 the w s to be passed therebe ertently its lassociatedrreverted loop34.1 Because The clip 20 preferably isffdrmedfrom spring brass or Xelude separate eonnectable ordisconnectable fasted-f other resilientmetal which may be benteasily into the f il erslthe likelihoodofaccidentalseparation of the watch desired configuration s d sm! retainits resilienceJThe 5 1;l6;;froi nthe bandisminirnized further.

mouth 36 is smaller in width than the'dianieter of the i Thusilhaveprovidedan improved watchband which mounting tab 28; ltispreferred toins hxme rivetsfsoi that their heads 46 are exposed atitheoutersurfaoel8 heads 46,which preferably are formed omfltheflfsanie ing arrangementalongtheouter surface i8 ,-ofthe watchband; t

" by the rivet44 "and is Itiainta ined i formed in the balsam,

a to the watchband their revertedloopssdopeh in ojppo site directions.whengattajching a watch mi iewateh-l underside of the clipandthet'EStflCiddhflQllllhi ()nev tion, with the loopdbeing wrapped about i itis unnecessary to removethe attachiri attaching pin so that when the pinis snapped through insures a firm grip onthewatch yet which is of simplethe mouth and into the loop it will be retained resil- Iandeconomicalconstruction as well as being aesthetiiently therein. Theclearance between the edge of the l cally pleasingfThe watch may beattached quickly and curled lip and connective portion 32, however,prefera l O simply with minimum manipulation. Additionally, bebly islarger than the diameter of the attaching pin 22 i cause mounting of theclip to the watchband thewatch so that the pin 22 maybe aligned easilywith the mouth cannot slip about o n t he watchband. 36 in readiness tobe snapped into theloop 34; It should be understoodthat the foregoingdescrip- The clips 20 are attached to the watchbandJQby "tion isintended merelyjto beillustrative of my inven means of transverseslotslli formed inkhewatchbandf 10. The offset mounting tabs28 are passedthrfotlghthe v slots '40 so that thetab. 28 is in engagementflwith the 1fromlitsfspirit. For example, although theinvention has lower surface 42of the band while theremaining pot been described asjusedina:watchbandadapted to be tion of the clip 20, including the revertedlobp 34fisfastenedto theuser's wrist, it may be employed to sedisposed along theoutersurface 18 of the band 1041s the preferred embodimientof theinvention ythe clip slfl are secured to thefbasje m by rivetslglijwhich"pass through the base and jlhole 26 formed inthelqoffsetf beapparent to thosesltilled in the art without departing aswrabsg ifi gndahts, of; the like.

claim gandfsecdrejby Letters Patent is: I

material as the clips2ll, plrovide an aestheticallypleasw the clips ztlaregoiunitary cohstruction andfdonoti it t ma ia that otherembodimentsandmodifications will i sautewareheswmherbase elements ormemherssuch aHaving thus described my invention whatl desire to awatch havinga ac mgpins:

edible base nierhberladapted essence one's a pair fclips sec ed to sa dbase member, said clips being spaced a receive said w ch h r bqi wssn fresilient constructlon'and gagernent of the connectli eportio 32th 'dandbeing positioned The clips are arranged sothatwhe hey re fast ee: 1irec on that s away from the otherof said clips band, the base may befolded over to expose clearlyth e portion32 and then issnapped throughthe restrictive mouth 36. Once the attaching pin is disposed within theloopythe resilient loop sn aps back to itsjoriginalposi reverted loopandthe terminat-Y attaching pin 22 thus retaining the at a h f p spifln bmit in engagement with the lugs 24 of the watch case atany v wrappedabout oneTs wrist; time. The other attaching pin then isiriserted intothe t i' i i i i reverted loop 34 of the otherclip in the same mantateinitial engagement of said attaching pin with ner. t e l 3 I i i themouth ofisaidl oop and to guide said attaching As shown in FIG. 2,it'may be desirable to form the pin into said loop as said pin and looparesnapped clip 20 so that the heightwide space between the tab 28together; i t i v and the bottom region of the loop 34 is somewhat lesssaid clip including an offset integral mounting tab than the thicknessof thewatchband 10. This requires formed at the end opposite saidreverted loop, said that the watchband be bent downwardly slightly astabbeing offset by a connective portionof said shown in FIG. 2 in acurve which tendsto follow the f cliprs'aid connective portion and saidflared end of countour of the users wrist; With this modificationthesaid loop defininga passa ge of greater dimensions clip 20 tends toremain closely tothe watchband 10 than the diameter of said pin of saidwatch to en} when it is worn and, therefore, tends to hold the watchable saidpin to p ass freely therethrough;

.16 firmly against the watchband and avoids any ten I said base memberhaving a slot formed therethrou gh dency of the watch 16 to lift upandtaway fromthe for reception of said connective member to enable,watchband 10. j. r 1 V y l aid tabto be located on the underside ofsaidbase Once the watchhas been attached to theband can member; and i l 1 ir 1 be removed only bytdjeliberate separatiohof the attach-f t means forsecuring said offset tab portion of said clip ing pins 22 fromthetreverted'loop 34. There is virtually to said base mernber. t

no likelihood that the attaching pin may separate inada 2. A deviceiasdetinedin claim 1 further comprising: Y

jlloopsbe gdisposed on the satire sideof said r g aidhbas memb oreceivehtheattaching said watch; eacHofsaid loops opening in a 1 1 ndsaway frotnithefpositionat whichsaidwatch is it i said reverse curledportion being effective to faciliwhereby when said base member iswrapped about ones wrist the watch will be held firmly against thewatchband and will avoid a tendency of the watch to lift up and awayfrom the watchband.

* l i I I!

1. A device for holding a watch having attaching pins located at theopposite ends of the watch comprising: a flexible base member adapted toencircle one''s wrist; a pair of clips secured to said base member, saidclips being spaced to receive said watch therebetween; each of saidclips being of resilient construction and having a reverted loop formedthereon, each of said loops being disposed on the same side of said basemember as said watch and being positioned along said base member toreceive the attaching pins of said watch, each of said loops opening ina direction that is away from the other of said clips and away from theposition at which said watch is supported; each of said loops definingan opening which is restricted to present a yieldable obstruction to thepassage of said attaching pins through said opening, whereby saidattaching pins may be snapped into said loop and be retained within saidloop; said free end of said reverted loop having a reverse curl to thatof said reverted loop and the terminating end is disposed along theouter surface of said flexible base member when said base member iswrapped about one''s wrist; said reverse curled portion being effectiveto facilitate initial engagement of said attaching pin with the mouth ofsaid loop and to guide said attaching pin into said loop as said pin andloop are snapped together; said clip including an offset integralmounting tab formed at the end opposite said reverted loop, said tabbeing offset by a connective portion of said clip, said connectiveportion and said flared end of said loop defining a passage of greaterdimensions than the diameter of said pin of said watch to enable saidpin to pass freely therethrough; said base member having a slot formedtherethrough for reception of said connective member to enable said tabto be located on the underside of said base member; and means forsecuring said offset tab portion of said clip to said base member.
 2. Adevice as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said base member beingof a predetermined thickness; and the height-wise dimension between saidtab and the lower portion of said loop being slightly less than saidpredetermined thickness of said base member whereby when said basemember is wrapped about one''s wrist the watch will be held firmlyagainst the watchband and will avoid a tendency of the watch to lift upand away from the watchband.